Stringed musical instrument



s. CLOETENS.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMEN T. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 1921..

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

ficaryesaaatens W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES CLOETENS', OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNO R OF ONE-THIRD TOGEORGES LALOUX, OF LIEGE, BELGIUM, AND ONE-THIRD TO LOUIS VAN DER HEYDENA HAUZEUR, OE BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

STRING-ED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t t 27, 2

Original application filed January 19, 1920, Serial No.'352,345. Dividedand this application filed March 7, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGES CLon'rnNs, manufacturer of organs atBrussels, Belgium, 37 Rue de Lauzanne, a subject of the 5 King ofBelgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StringedMusical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs, and to lettersor figures of reference marked therein, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments in which thestrings are struck by hammers, being a division of an applicationentitled, Strin ed musical instruments,

filed Jan. 19, 1920, erial No. 352,345.

The object of the invention is to provide means for modifying the soundsproduced by the strings to produce the effects of strings which areplucked, z'. 6., effects similar to those produced by harpsichords,harps, etc.

The above result is attained according to the present invention bypositioning hard pieces of metal, ebonite, or other suitable material,in close proximity to the strings so 80 that the latter in vibratingstrike against these pieces with more or less force.

Provision is made for bringing the hard pieces closer to or for movingthem farther away from the strings in order to vary the effect producedby the vibrating strings strikingagainst them.

In the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, aconstructional form of the invention,

Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of the general arrangement of thestrings of a piano and of the apparatus constituting the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of Fig. 1 at right angles to thestrings; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The strings 9 are stretched in the usual way over the plate 1, 2. Theyare operated in the usual way by hammers (not shown) acting at a certaindistance from the front part 1 of the plate.

The apparatus constituting the present in- Serial No. 450,497.

vention comprises a supporting bar 3 of wood or light metal in one ormore sections positioned above th strings, preferably near the hammerline.

Above the strings of each of the notes (each note may be produced by atriple string as illustrated in Fig. 2') the bar 3 is traversed by a rod4 bent at its lower end to extend transversely abov the strings of eachnote in close proximity thereto. The rods 4 are of metal, ebonite, orother similar hard material, and they are mounted to slide vertically inthe bar 3, in order that the position of the bent lower ends withrespect to the strings of the several notes may be.

adjusted, and they are secured in adjusted position by means of screws5.

Overlying the supporting bar 3 adjacent one end thereof is a wedgemember 7 which coacts with an inclined face on the bar. This wedgemember is actuated through a rod 8 provided with a handle member nearthe keyboard. Actuation of the wedge by means of the rod 8 causes thebar 3 to be depressed, thereby bringing the hard pieces i nearer to thestrings. A spring 6 tends to constantlymove the bar 3 and hard pieces 4away from the strings.

When the bar 3 is in its highest position, the strings when vibrating donot come into contact with th hard pieces 4 but produce the usual soundsof thepiano. When, on the contrary, the bar is depressedthe maximumdistance provided for by the operationof the wedge 7, the hard pieces 4are in such close proximity to the strings that substantially the fulleffect of plucked strings will be obtained. For the intermediatepositions of the bar, the effect of plucked strings combined with thatof the ordinary piano will be obtained.

It will be understood that the end of the supporting bar 3 opposite thatengaged by the wedge 7 will be supported by suitable means permittingthe movement of the supporting bar caused by the wedge.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent is 1. A stringed musical instrument played by hammers,having hard pieces mounted for movement toward the strings, and meansfor moving said pieces into position to be struck by said strings whenthe latter vibrate with out bringing them into actual contact with saidstrings when the latter are at rest.

2. A stringed musical instrument played by hammers, having a barpositioned transversely above the strings in proximity to the hammerline, adjustable rods carried by said bar bent at their lower ends toform hard pieces extending transversely above the "1;- strings of theseveral notes, and means for moving said bar toward said strings, toposition said hard pieces to be struck by said strings only whenthelatter vibrate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presense oftwo witnesses.

GEORGES CLOETENS.

Witnesses Gnonons VANDER HAEYDEN. LOMERID LEVER,

